New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-04
PROHIBITION IN NAME

An interesting and instructive controversy
has been carried on recently between The
Portland (McO Press and General Neal Dow
The latter urged fresh legislation to enforce the
prohibitive principle. The former expressed
the opinion that this was not the right rem
edy General Dow replied that all temperance
people want such legislation, whatever it
may be, that will render liquor-sellng unprof-
liable and uncomfortable to those who persist
in it,; and he added that there was clearly
"an overwhelming public opinion" In favor
Of enforcement of the law, inasmuch as prohibI-
ton was put in the Constitution by majority
of 47,O75. To these representations The
Press'' answered that the majority referred to
could not be regarded as indicating an "over-
whelming' sentiment in favor of prohibition
for the reason that the vote on the amendment
was 47,SO3 less than the vote for Governor
(cast at the same time), showing that III add
ton TO the 1881 who voted against prohlbi-
ton there were 47.8O3 persons who were too
Indifferent TO vote on the amendment at all,
and that consequently "the number Of people
opposcd to prohibition and Indifferent to the
subject is in excess of the number of people
who favor it.~ "The Press" further observes
that it is to this want Of overwhelming public
sentiment that the laxity Of the enforcement
of the law is due. This. we believe. must be
cured before the law win be continuously and
stringently enforced. We do not think addi-
tional legislation will contribute to that end"
This is the more significant because The
Portland Press" has always advocated prohibit
ton, and must be classed as q tried and proved
friend of the system. 1t shows in answer to
Neal Dow that tho law as it stands is fully
adequate to "rendcr liquor-selling Improbable
and uncomfortable 10 those who persist in it,"
II makes the business Improbable by provid-
ing for the confscation of the convicted liquor
sellers whole stock. It makes 1t uncomfort-
able by making his imprisonment compulsory
and beyond the option Of the courts. As O. The
Press' says 1.-THE truth Is. Che law makes
rum selling Improbable enough and uncom-
Portable enough to drive everybody out of the
business If it were perfectly enforced there
would not be a rumse1ler in Maine to-day.
. The difficulty is that no way has yet
been discovered to make Che law practically
what it is Theoretically" When il ia remcm-
bercd that thousands Of Intelligent men have
been meditating the subject for thirty years
any difficulty in getting the most stringent
provisions enacted in Maine; but that in spite
of opportunity and the support of public sentI-
ment prohibition does not yet prohibit; some
doubt ought to arise even in the minds of
General Dow and his friends as to the efficacy
of the means they persist in Wanting above
all others.
Now. If in the State which has tried pro-
bibition under the most favorable conditions
and for the longest period it has been impos-
sible to create public sentiment enough TO
secure the enforcement Of the law, the ques-
ton arises with what show Of reason can the
Prohibitionists affirm that they have solved the
temperance problem. and with what regard
70 facts can they maintain-what Is the very
pith and marrow Of their position-that pro-
hibition does prohibits Surely 1t Is time for
them to admit that those who hesitate to accept
their improved theory, and who think the
education Of public sentiment an indispensable